DANGEROUS COCKTAIL? Herbal remedies and arthritis drugs can be a potentially dangerous mix, suggests a new survey.
Almost half of patients with arthritis had used a herbal or over-the-counter remedy within the preceding six months with one in 10 taking remedies that could interact with conventional drugs. These included echinacea, which increases the risk of liver toxicity when taken with arthritis drugs, and ginkgo biloba, garlic and devil's claw, all of which increase the risk of bleeding disorders when taken with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroids. "Both patients and prescribers need more information and education on the risks and potential interactions of these preparations," the researchers said.
WRITERS GATHERING: The Society of Medical Writers will hold its annual meeting in the Republic on Saturday. The venue is the Croke Park Conference Centre at 9am. Aimed at all writers with a health background, whether experienced or merely curious about the writing business, the meeting includes practical workshops on different genres.
Among the speakers are: Paul Carson, Dublin GP and best-selling thriller writer; Ian Banks, health education writer; and The Irish Times medical correspondent, Dr Muiris Houston. For more information, contact Declan Fox, tel: +44 (0) 28 81661467 or mobile +44 (0) 7899 664904 or e-mail: declan@boskone.freeserve.co.uk
RECOVERY IN POETRY: Needle and Knife - Adventures in Letterkenny General Hospital is a booklet of poetry by Brian Smeaton, taken from a collection of poems he wrote while receiving and recovering from surgery at the hospital. Offering people an insight into his personal experience of illness and reflective on the care he received, the poems are a testament to the restorative powers of creativity. They were published as part of Letterkenny Hospital's exhibition celebrating International Day Against Racism.
Copies at €3 each are available from Notaems Press, Bearna Ghaoithe, Drumcarney, Trentagh, Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Tel: 074 9137917. All proceeds go to the Friends of Letterkenny Hospital.
MAGGOT THERAPY: A three-year clinical trial into the benefits of larval therapy, led by the Department of Health Sciences in York University, England, has just been launched. The trial will look at how effective maggots are in the treatment of leg ulcers.
"We are looking to see if larval therapy helps clean and heal leg ulcers more quickly than the standard treatment," says trial co-ordinator Dr Pauline Raynor.
When put in an infected wound, maggots will devour only the dead and rotting material, leaving the wound clean once they've finished. With antibiotics no longer regarded as quite the panacea they once were, the potential of larval therapy is being re-considered. Volunteers from health trusts across the North and Midlands of England and Northern Ireland will take part in the trial.
Lifelines is compiled by Sylvia Thompson and Dr Muiris Houston